Illegitimate Child: Maria Theresa's Hidden Legacy?

Maria Theresa of Austria, also known as Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina, was the ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780. She was the Holy Roman Empress, sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, and several other territories. Maria Theresa was married to Emperor Francis I, with whom she had sixteen children, only ten of whom survived into adulthood.

There is no mention of Maria Theresa having an illegitimate child in any of the sources. However, there were rumours that Maria Theresa of Spain, who was married to Louis XIV, had an illegitimate daughter named Louise Marie Thérèse.

Maria Theresa's children

Maria Theresa gave birth to sixteen children, eleven daughters and five sons, between 1737 and 1756. She was a devoted but self-conscious mother, writing to each of her children at least once a week and believing herself entitled to exercise authority over them regardless of their age and rank.

Maria Theresa's first child, Maria Elisabeth (1737-1740), died while still a young child. The eldest of the surviving children was Maria Anna (1738-1789), who developed strong intellectual interests and was very similar in character to her father. Afflicted by a deformation of the ribcage, she was not considered marriageable and remained with her mother until the latter's death in 1780. Maria Anna then spent the rest of her life as abbess of the St Elizabeth convent in Klagenfurt.

The third daughter, Maria Karolina (b. 1740), died in infancy.

Joseph (1741-1790) was the long-awaited male heir. He became emperor and successor to Maria Theresa, ruling the Habsburg Monarchy.

Maria Christina (1742-1798) was Maria Theresa's favourite daughter but was not popular with her siblings. She was the only child allowed to marry for love rather than political reasons. Her husband was Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen (1738-1822), a non-ruling member of the Saxon Wettin dynasty.

Maria Elisabeth (1743-1808) was reportedly very pretty and was chosen to play a leading role in her mother's marriage schemes. However, her looks were ruined by a bout of smallpox, and she remained unmarried, later becoming eccentric and cantankerous.

Karl Joseph (1745-1761) was Maria Theresa's favourite son. Intelligent and charming, he was more likeable than the rather withdrawn Crown Prince Joseph, and their relationship was one of fraternal rivalry. Karl Joseph's early death at the age of sixteen, from smallpox, was a heavy blow for his parents.

Maria Amalie (1746-1804) was married off to Duke Ferdinand of Parma against her express will as part of the rapprochement with the Bourbons. She never forgave her mother, and their relationship remained cool.

Peter Leopold (1747-1792) initially had little chance of inheriting the throne. However, following the early death of his brother Karl, he became next in line to succeed his father as Grand Duke of Tuscany. When his elder brother Joseph II died without issue, Peter Leopold became emperor, an office he held for only two years.

Two daughters, Maria Karoline and Johanna, died young. Maria Karoline (b. 1748) died shortly after birth, while Johanna (b. 1750) died from smallpox at the age of twelve.

Another smallpox victim was Maria Josepha (1751-1767), who died shortly before she was due to marry the Neapolitan crown prince.

Her place was taken by Maria Karolina (1752-1814), who became queen of Naples and Sicily. She was even more prolific than her mother, giving birth to a total of eighteen children.

Ferdinand Karl Anton (1754-1806) married the heiress to the d'Este dynasty, which ruled over the northern Italian principality of Modena, and founded the collateral Habsburg-Modena line.

The best-known daughter of Maria Theresa was Maria Antonia (1755-1793), who became Marie Antoinette, queen of France. She would eventually meet her end under the blade of the guillotine.

Maximilian Franz (1756-1801), Maria Theresa's youngest child, was a sickly child and thus destined for a career in the Church. He became archbishop and elector of Cologne and was appointed Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights.

Maria Theresa's pregnancies and childbirths

When Maria Theresa conceived, and the pregnancy reached three months, it had to be proclaimed, and she was carried in a sedan chair during processions. On three occasions during her pregnancies, she underwent venipuncture, with 0.5L of blood evacuated per venipuncture. This was considered ceremonial for good luck at delivery. When initial labour pains occurred, a solemn mass was held for a favourable delivery outcome in the Court chapel.

Maria Theresa gave birth to sixteen children, fifteen of whom were live births. One female baby was born without signs of life. Cephalic presentation was recorded in fourteen births, and breech presentation in two. Thirteen deliveries were free from complications, while three were very difficult and associated with obstetric complications.

Maria Theresa had all her deliveries with the assistance of the Court midwife, while the Court physician performed manual lysis of the placenta. Following delivery, the Habsburg-Lorraine archduke or archduchess was baptised by the papal nuncio, but two children were baptised by the midwife in life-threatening conditions.

Maria Theresa's children were:

• Maria Elizabeth (1740-1740)
• Maria Anna (1738-1789)
• Maria Karolina (1740-1741)
• Joseph (1741-1790)
• Maria Christina (1742-1798)
• Maria Elisabeth (1743-1808)
• Karl Joseph (1745-1761)
• Maria Amalia (1746-1804)
• Peter Leopold (1747-1792)
• Maria Karoline (1748-1748)
• Johanna (1750-1762)
• Maria Josepha (1751-1767)
• Maria Karolina (1752-1814)
• Ferdinand Karl Anton (1754-1806)
• Maria Antonia (1755-1793)
• Maximilian Franz (1756-1801)

Maria Theresa's marriage

Maria Theresa and Francis had 16 children, 13 of whom survived infancy, and 10 of whom survived into adulthood. The first child, Maria Elisabeth, was born less than a year after the wedding. The child's sex caused great disappointment, as did the births of Maria Anna and Maria Carolina. While fighting to preserve her inheritance, Maria Theresa gave birth to a son, Joseph, named after Saint Joseph, to whom she had repeatedly prayed for a male child during the pregnancy. Maria Theresa's favourite child, Maria Christina, was born on her 25th birthday.

Maria Theresa's love for her husband was strong and possessive, and his infidelity was the greatest problem in their marriage. His best-known mistress was Maria Wilhelmina, Princess of Auersperg. Despite this, the marriage was harmonious, and Maria Theresa was devastated when Francis died in 1765. She abandoned all ornamentation, had her hair cut short, painted her rooms black, and dressed in mourning for the rest of her life.

Maria Theresa's succession

However, upon Charles' death in 1740, several nations reneged on their promise, and the War of the Austrian Succession broke out. Maria Theresa's succession was challenged by Queen Elisabeth of Spain, Elector Charles Albert of Bavaria, and Empress Wilhelmine Amalia, who coveted portions of her inheritance. Despite this, Maria Theresa successfully defended her rule over most of the Habsburg monarchy, except for the loss of Silesia and some minor territories in Italy.

Maria Theresa's death

Maria Theresa died on 29 November 1780, surrounded by her remaining children. She had suffered from poor health since contracting smallpox in 1767, and her ailments included shortness of breath, fatigue, coughs, distress, necrophobia, and insomnia. She also developed edema.

Maria Theresa's body is buried in an ornate double sarcophagus in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna, next to her husband. The crypt is the official resting place of the Habsburg line, with around 150 members of the dynasty laid to rest there.

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